{"id":3541,"date":"2024-08-05T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/?p=3541"},"modified":"2025-06-06T06:18:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T10:18:27","slug":"6-common-causes-of-ac-breakdowns-and-how-to-prevent-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/6-common-causes-of-ac-breakdowns-and-how-to-prevent-them\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Common Causes of AC Breakdowns and How to Prevent Them"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"woman-in-front-of-fan-hand-on-head\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

When you rely on your air conditioning system throughout much of the year, an unexpected breakdown is always a frustrating experience. Unfortunately, it\u2019s because of this heavy usage that homeowners eventually find themselves needing air conditioning repair in Orange County<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many homeowners wonder what they could\u2019ve done to prevent repair needs. Although even the best-maintained AC systems might need a repair every now and then, there are things you can do to decrease the likelihood of an interruption of your AC system\u2019s cooling power. Let\u2019s go over the most common causes of AC breakdowns<\/a> and what you can do to try and prevent them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. Skipping Maintenance: Major AC Failure Trigger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the top cause of AC breakdowns. We are often called to homes where the AC system isn\u2019t working and it\u2019s evident the air conditioner has not received routine maintenance. Any complex piece of equipment needs to be maintained on a regular basis in order for it to function properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why we make it easy to schedule maintenance with our MVP <\/a>Membership Value Plan<\/a> maintenance club. We offer three plans that save you money, helping to ensure the value and efficiency of your home\u2019s AC system. Membership has its value. For more on why this matters, spring AC maintenance<\/a> can prevent many of the issues discussed here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Air Filter Neglect: A Breakdown Risk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The filter in an AC system is designed to keep dust and dirt out of the internal components of the system. This filter should be replaced every 1\u20133 months. Failure to clean or change the filter will cause symptoms such as weak airflow, lukewarm air, and frozen coils. If your system is showing any of these signs, the first thing you should do is check the filter to see if it\u2019s clogged or dirty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Detect and Prevent AC Refrigerant Leaks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Refrigerant leaks are the most common cause of an AC breakdown. Although an AC was designed to have enough refrigerant to run for its entire lifespan, even the tiniest leak can result in issues. These leaks can be caused by anything from an improper installation to general wear and tear. Without enough refrigerant, the air conditioning system will never be able to function properly. Leaking water around the unit<\/a> may also be a symptom tied to refrigerant or drainage issues. Learn why refrigerant issues lead to AC failure<\/a> and how our technicians can help.
Our technicians will find the source of the leak and repair it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Top Electrical AC Issues and Solutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Electrical problems don\u2019t happen often, but they can be a cause of an AC breakdown. Faulty wiring, tripped circuit breakers, and capacitor failures can disrupt the operation of the system. These problems can cause the AC unit to stop working altogether or function intermittently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. How Thermostat Problems Disrupt AC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A malfunctioning thermostat can cause the system to cycle on and off incorrectly or fail to maintain the desired temperature. Common thermostat problems include incorrect calibration, dead batteries, and sensor issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.Frozen AC Coils: Causes and Fixes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dirty or frozen coils can significantly affect the performance of your AC system. When coils are covered in dirt or ice, they cannot effectively absorb or release heat, leading to reduced cooling capacity and potential system failure. This is something that can be caused by a lack of routine maintenance or a dirty air filter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air<\/strong><\/a> for fast, professional air conditioning repair in Orange County, CA. We have served Orange County since 1981.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s go over the most common causes of AC breakdowns and what you can do to try and prevent them.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[247],"tags":[39,24,69],"class_list":["post-3541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-air-conditioning-service","tag-ac-repair","tag-air-conditioning-repair","tag-orange-county"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3541"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3541\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3732,"href":"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3541\/revisions\/3732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saddlebackplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}